According to Article 19 in the Implementation methods in Shanghai for the "Law on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution of the People's Republic of China", boilers and kilns fueled by highly polluting sources of energy are prohibited in the city's inner ring area.

The three-year action plan of Shanghai environmental protection and construction (2003-2005) stipulates: all coal-burning facilities must switch to using environmentally-friendly sources of energy in the city's inner ring area by the year 2005. Therefore, coal-burning boilers are prohibited in the city's inner ring area after 2005.